Dual acting push button toggle switch

ABSTRACT

A dual function electrical switch which can be operated either as a three position toggle switch or as a push button switch. The switch includes an elongated plunger-equipped actuator or operating shaft mounted within a casing, a toggle lever blade rockably mounted within the casing below the plunger, and a pair of switch levers pivotally mounted within the casing on opposite sides of the actuator. Each of the levers are engageable with one or more terminals which are mounted within the casing and extend outwardly therefrom. A pair of spring-biased plungers are carried by a cross shaft extending transversely through the actuator shaft and push the switch levers into electrical contact with their associated terminals when the actuator shaft is depressed longitudinally downwardly. When the actuator shaft is not depressed, it is pivotable out of its centered position to operate the toggle lever blade. Abutment means carried by the actuator shaft are cooperable with an opening in the top wall of the casing to prevent toggling action when the actuator shaft is depressed and to prevent push button action when the actuator shaft is pivoted. A flexible sealing boot hermetically seals the interior of the casing during both toggling and push button action.

United States Patent [191 Roeser Nov. 13, 1973 [541 DUAL ACTING PUSHBUTTON TOGGLE SWITCH [76] Inventor: John 0. Roeser, 414 W. Victoria Ln.,Arlington Heights, 111.

Filed: Sept. 11, 1972 Appl. No.: 287,835

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1941 Krieger 200/67. G10/1943 Krieger 200/67 G 5/l968 McCann 200/6 A 2/1972 Rayner 200/6 APrimary ExaminerDavid Smith, Jr. Atl0rneyRobert D. Silver [57] ABSTRACTA dual function electrical switch which can be operated either as athree position toggle switch or as a push button switch. The switchincludes an elongated plunger-equipped actuator or operating shaftmounted within a casing, a toggle lever blade rockably mounted withinthe casing below the plunger, and a pair of switch levers pivotallymounted within the casing on opposite sides of the actuator. Each of thelevers are engageable with one or more terminals which are mountedwithin the casing and extend outwardly therefrom. A pair ofspring-biased plungers are carried by a cross shaft extendingtransversely through the actuator shaft and push the switch levers intoelectrical contact with their associated terminals when the actuatorshaft is depressed longitudinally downwardly. When the actuator shaft isnot depressed, it is pivotable out of its centered position to operatethe toggle lever blade. Abutment means carried by the actuator shaft arecooperable with an opening in the top wall of the casing to preventtoggling action when the actuator shaft is depressed and to prevent pushbutton action when the actuator shaft is pivoted. A flexible sealingboot hermetically seals the interior of the casing during both togglingand push button action.

13Claims, 14 Drawing Figures DUAL ACTING PUSH BUTTON TOGGLE SWITCHBACKGROUND AND SUMMARY This invention relates to electrical switches,and

' more particularly, to an electrical switch which can be operated bothas a toggle switch and as a push button switch.

Both toggle switches and push button switches have been available forsome time. However, I do not believe that any of these switches have asingle operating shaft which provides the dual function of both a toggleswitch and a push button switch.

The invention provides a switch with a single operating shaft which hasa dual function the switch can be operated either as a toggle switch ora push button switch. The push button function and the toggle functionare available separately from the other, and only one function can beobtained at a time. Cooperating locking means on the operating shaft andthe casing prevent toggling action when the operating shaft is pushedand prevent push button action when the operating shaft is pivoted toactuate the toggle mechanism. All operations of the switch aremomentary, and the operating shaft always returns to a centered, raisedposition after each opertion. Since the switch uses only a singleoperating shaft for both the toggle and the push button function, theswitch can be used in place of two separate switches. The circuit forthe toggle switch is single-pole double-throw, center off, and thecircuit for the push button switch is double pole normally open. Eventhough the switch offers a multitude of functions with three poles, theswitch is very compact.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be explained inconjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which FIG. 1 is a longitudinalsectional view of theelectrical switch with the operating or actuating shaft in the normalposition, this view being taken along the line 1--l of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the switch being operated asa push button switch and the operating shaft in a depressed position;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a view similarto FIG. 2 showing the electrical switch beingoperated as a toggle switch and the operating shaft being pivoted tomove the toggle switch lever into contact with one of the terminals;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the push button of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the push button taken along the line 6-6of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the switch casing taken along the line 7-7of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the base portion of the switch casing;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the guide washer;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the washer taken along the line 10-10of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of one of the switch levers for thepush button mode of the switch;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the switch lever taken along theline l2--12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view-of the operating shaft;

and

FIG. 14 is a side fragmentary view of the operating shaft taken alongthe line I4 14 of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 14, thenumeral 15 designates generally an electrical switch having a casing 16,an operating button or knob 17, and an operating or actuating shaft 18.The casing 16 includes a generally cylindrical base portion 19 which isclosed by a bottom wall 20, and outer tubular case or housing 21 whichis ensleeved over the cylindrical case and which includes a top wall 22.

The base 19 is formed of insulating material and includes a pair ofparallel, flat partitions or inner walls 23 and 24 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 8)which divide the interior of the base into three compartments 25, 26,27. A conventional toggle yoke'28 is mounted within the central portionof the middle chamber 26 and includes a terminal portion 29 whichextends downwardly through the bottom wall 20 of the base. Alsopositioned within the middle compartment are a pair of toggle terminals30 and 31 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 8) which extend through the bottom wall onopposite sides of the toggle yoke 28. A V-shaped toggle lever blade 32is rockably mounted on the toggle yoke and is provided with a centralconcave recess 34 (FIG. 2) which receives the rounded nose of a plunger35. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the V-shaped toggleblade 32 may be moved by the plunger 35 from the center off positionillustrated in FIG. 3 into electrical contact with either of the toggleterminals 30 or 31 as shown in FIG. 3.

A pair of push button terminals37 and 38 are positioned within each ofthe outer compartments 25 and 27 of the base and extend downwardlythrough the bottom wall. A metal switch lever 39, which has the generalshape of an upsidedown T (FIG. 12), is mounted within each of thecompartments 25 and 27 above the push button terminals.

As can be seen best in FIG. 11, each of the switch levers 39 includesfirst and second lever arm portions 40 and 41, respectively, which areangularly related and which are joined by a pivot or fulcrum portion42'. The pivot portion 42 is in the form of a ledge which is supportedby a shoulder 43 formed in the inner surface of the cylindrical sidewall of the base. A contact portion 44 extends transversely from thelower end of the second lever arm 41 and carries a pair of contacts 45which are engageable with the terminals 37 and 38 when the operatingshaft is depressed.

The operating shaft 18 includes a lower cylindrical portion 48 which istelescopingly received in a central bore in the plunger 35,'anintermediate cylindrical portion 49 of greater diameter than the lowerportion 48, and an upper cylindrical portion 50. A coil spring 51 isensleeved over the plunger 35 and is retained between an annularshoulder 52 on the plunger (FIG. 4) and a washer 53 (FIG. 4) which abutsthe intermediate cylindrical portion 49 of the shaft. The lower portionof the intermediate cylindrical'portion 49 is recessed to provide a pairof flat sides 54 and 55 (compare FIGS. 13 and 14), and a cross shaft 56extends transversely through the shaft through an opening provided inthe recessed portion of the intermediate cylindrical portion. A pusheror plunger 57 is telescopingly carried on each end of the cross shaftand is biased laterally outwardly from the operating shaft by a coilspring 58. Each pusher 57 extends through a rectangular slot 59 in oneof the partitions 23 and 24 which form the compartments in the base 19.

A guide washer 60 is positioned between the top of the cylindrical base19 and the top wall 22 of the outer case and includes four downwardlyextending guide pins 61 (see also FIGS. 9 and 10). The actuating shaftextends through the central opening 62 of the washer, and each of thetwo pushers 57 extends between a pair of the guide pins 61 and is guidedor centered thereby.

relative to the switch levers 39.

The operating button 17 includes a concave top wall 62, a dependingcylindrical side wall 63, and an inner annularly shaped downwardlyextending projection 64 which is provided with a central bore 64a whichre ceives the upper cylindrical portion 50 of the operating shaft. Thebutton may be secured to the actuating shaft by a pin which is insertedthrough the annular projection 64 and the upper end of the shaft.Comparing FIGS. and 6, a pair of generally half-moon shaped projections65 extend downwardly from the annular projection 64 at diametricallyopposed locations around the bore 64a. The outer periphery of thesehalfmoon shaped projections corresponds to the periphery of anelongated, somewhat oval shaped opening 66 (see particularly FIG. 7) inthe top wall 22 of the outer case. The opening 66 is provided through anupstanding central portion 67 of the top wall which has a beveled outerperiphery 68.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, a generally hatshaped flexible sealingboot 69 extends between the operating shaft and the casing andhermetically seals the interior of the casing. The boot includes a lowerperipheral outwardly extending flange 70 which is compressed between thewasher 60 and the top wall of the outer case, an upstanding cylindricalside wall 71, and a top wall 72 which is provided with a central openingthrough which the operating shaft extends. The top wall includes anannular rib 73 surrounding the opening therethrough which is received inan annular groove 74 in the operating shaft between the intermediate andupper cylindrical portions 49 and 50. The sealing boot is bonded to boththe casing and the operating shaft by a suitable bonding material, suchas epoxy resin. Bonding material 74 seals the outer peripheral flange 70to the casing between the guide washer and the top wall of the outercase, and bonding material 75 seals the top wall of the boot to the.operating shaft.

The bottomof the switch can be hermetically sealed by dipping the switchinto a suitable sealing material, such as epoxy resin, to seal theopening through which the terminals extend and to seal any space betweenthe outer case 21 and the base 19.

The actuator for the switch comprises the operating button 17, the shaft18, and the spring-biased plungers 35 and S7. The normal or unactuactedposition of the actuator is illustrated in both FIGS. 1 and 3 in whichthe operating shaft 18 extends along the longitudinal axis of the casingand the operatingbutton 17 is positioned above the top wall of the outercase. The operating shaft is normally maintained in this position by thecoil spring 51 which is ensleeved above the plunger 35 and which urgesthe plunger to telescopingly extend along the rod 48. Referring now toFIG. 1, when the switch is in the unactuated position, the pushers57'are biased outwardly by the coil springs 58 against the first leverportions 40 of the switch levers 39, thereby maintaining the contacts 45away from the push button terminals 37 and 38. The pushers 57 extendbetween the guide pins 61 and are positioned above the bottom of theslots 59 in the inner walls 23 and 24 of the base.

When it is desired to operate the push button mode of the switch, thebutton 17 is pushed downwardly to depress the operating shaft againstthe bias of the coil spring 51. As the pushers pass downwardly over thepivot portions 42 of the switch levers 39 and engage the second leverarm portions 41, the contacts 45 are forced outwardly into engagementwith the terminals 37 and 38, and each switch lever bridges the spacebetween each pair of terminals 37 and 38 and completes a circuittherebetween. As the pushers 57 move downwardly from the off positionshown in FIG. 1 to the on position shown in FIG. 2, the sliding movementthereof on the cross shaft 56 is guided by the guide pins 61 and also bythe slots 59 in the internal .walls in the base. The slots also preventrotation of the operating shaft about its central axis and maintain theoperating button 17 in position relative to the casing. When thedownward force on the operating button is released, the coil spring 51returns the operating shaft to its original upper position shown inFIG. 1. As the pushers pass over the pivot portion 42 of theswitch'levers and engage the first lever arm portions 30, the contacts45 are snapped away'from the terminals 37 and 38, and the circuitstherebetween are broken.

The toggling mode of the switch will be described with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4. When the operating shaft is in the normal centeredposition illustrated in FIG. 3, it can be pivoted from the centeredposition by pushing the operating knob either to the right or to theleft. In FIG. 4 the operating knob has been pushed to the right and theoperating shaft has pivoted about the cross shaft 56 to move the plunger35 into engagement with one of the arms of the V-shaped toggle blade 32,thereby rocking the toggle blade on the yoke 28 and forcing one of thecontacts 33 into engagement with the terminal 30. The pushers 57 whichextend through the slots 59 in the internal walls of the base preventrotation of the operating shaft during toggling and insure that thepivoting of the operating shaft'will occur about the cross shaft 56.

As the plunger 35 moves from the concave depression 34 in the toggleblade toward one of the contacts 33, the plunger will be telescopinglyretracted along the rod 48 and compress the coil springs 51.Accordingly, when the force acting upon the operating button is removed,the coil spring 51 will tend telescopingly extend the plunger 35 andbring the plunger and the operating shaft back to the centered positionillustrated in FIG. 1.

The half-moon shaped projections on the operating button and thegenerally oval shaped opening 66 in the top wall of the outer case actas locking means to prevent toggling of the switch when the push buttonmode of the switch is being used and to prevent depression of theoperating shaft when the toggling mode of the switch is being used. Ascan be seen in FIG. 4, when the switch is moved to one of its toggledpositions, one of the projections 65 is moved laterally beyond theperiphery of the opening 66 and is positioned above an imperforateportion of the top wall of the case. In this position the projection 65is engageable with the top wall to prevent downward movement of theoperating button and the operating shaft. When the push button isdepressed, the projections 65 move downwardly into the opening 66,thereby locking the operating shaft against pivoting movement.

The elongated non-round shape of the opening 66 and the mating peripheryof the half-moon projections 65 on the operating button also serve toprevent rotation of the button and the operating shaft when the shaft isdepressed. This provides added strength for the anti-rotation featureprovided by the guide pins 61 and the slots 59 in the internal walls ofthe base.

The flexible sealing boot 69 hermetically seals the interior of thecasing during both push button and toggling operations. As can be seenin FIG. 4, the side wall 71 and the top wall 72 on one side of the bootmerely collapse during toggling while the side wall and the top wall onthe other side of the boot become somewhat straightened. Comparing FIGS.1 and 2, during operation of the push button mode of the switch, the topwall 72 and the side wall 71 of the boot roll inwardly as the center ofthe boot moves downwardly with the operating shaft, and the boot tendsto be turned inside out on a rolling sleeve principle. This rollingsleeve sealing principle permits theuse of substantially thick rubberwithout adding appreciably to the operating force required to depressthe operating shaft. This is because the boot is flexed in a very wellcontrolled rolling action as distinguished from buckling that normallyoccurs in an ordinary compression boot.

The rolling sleeve boot also is able towithstand relatively largepressure differences across it, as when being subjected to high vacuumin testing or under high altitude conditions. The ability to withstandlarge pressure differentials is due not only tothe greater thickness ofthe boot but because the side wall 71 of the boot is supported by theouter case and the inner periphery of the boot is supported by theoperating shaft. Only a small upper portion of the boot is notsupported, and I have found that the boot is strong enough to preventblow out under the influence of the pressure differences normallyencountered. In one specific embodiment of the invention the boot wasformed from DC 50 silicone rubber, andthe thickness-of the side wall andtop wall was about 0.020 inch.

From the foregoing it is seen that the electrical switch has only onebody and one operating shaft, but the operating shaft functions both asa three position toggle switch or as a push button switch. Either ofthese push button or toggle functions is available separately from theother, and only one function may be used at a time. The circuit for thetoggle switch is single-pole doublethrow, center off, and the circuitfor the push button switch is double pole nonnally open. The operatingshaft is normally in an upright center off position, and when the shaftis toggled in either of its two toggling directions, the push buttonfunction is locked out. When the shaft is depressed from its center offposition, it makes each of two poles, and the toggling function islocked out. All operations of the switch are momentary, and theoperating button always returns to center whether from operation as apush button or as a toggle switch.

Even though there are three poles available, the switch-can be made verycompact, and in one embodiment of the invention, the outside diameter ofthe switch casing was only 3/4 inch. Since a single operating knobprovides both push button action and toggle action, only one location onan operating panel in an airplane or the like is required for both typesof switches. The switch is particularly advantageous in situations whereit is desirable to have a relationship between the push button actionand the toggling action.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of aspecific embodiment of the invention was setforth for the purposes ofillustration, it is to be understood that many of the details hereingiven may be varied considerably by those skilled in the arts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An electrical switch comprising a casing, a plurality of terminalswithin the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, an elongatedactuator mounted within the casing for longitudinal movement and forpivoting movement in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis ofthe actuator and extending generally parallel thereto, toggle switchmeans movably mounted within the casing below the actuator and adjacentat least one of saidterminals whereby pivoting movement of the actuatormoves the toggle switch means into and out of electrical contact withsaid one terminal, switch lever means mounted within the casinglaterally of the actuator and adjacent another of said terminals, theactuator including pusher means for engaging the switch lever means andforcing the switch lever means into electrical contact with said otherterminal when the actuator is moved longitudinally, and locking means onthe casing and the actuator for preventing pivoting movement of theactuator when the actuator is moved longitudinally and for preventinglongitudinal movement of the actuator when the actuator is pivotedwhereby only one of the toggle switch means and the lever switch meansmay be'actuated at a time.

2. The switch of claim 1 in which the casing includes a top wall, thelocking means including an opening in the top wall of the casing, theactuator extending outwardly from the casing through the opening in thetop wall, and abutment means carried by the actuator, the actuator beingmoveable longitudinally between a first longitudinal position in whichthe switch lever means is not in electrical contact with said otherterminal and a second longitudinal position in which the switch levermeans is in electrical contact with said other terminal, the abutmentmeans being positioned above the top wall of the casing when theactuator is in the first longitudinal position whereby the actuator canbe pivoted without having the abutment means engage the periphery of theopening in the top wall of the casing, the abutmentmeans beingengageable with the periphery of the opening in the top wall of thecasing when the actuator is in the second longitudinal position wherebythe actuator is prevented from pivoting, the actuator being pivotablebetween centered and uncentered positions when the actuator is in thefirst longitudinal position, the abutment means being positioned over aportion of the topwall of the casing when the actuator is in theuncentered position whereby the abutment means in engageable with thetop wall to prevent longitudinal movement of the actuator to the secondlongitudinal position.

3. The switch of claim 2 in which the opening in the top wall of thecasing and the abutment means have mating non-round peripheral portionswhereby rotation of the actuator about its longitudinal axis isrestrained when the actuator is in the second longitudinal position.

4. The switch of claim 2 in which the actuator includes a push buttonmounted on the outer end thereof, the abutment means being provided by acollar on the push button which extends around at least a portion of theperiphery of the actuator.

5. The switch of claim 1 including a generally hatshaped flexiblesealing boot surrounding the actuator and secured to the casing forhermetically sealing the interior of the casing.

6. The switch of claim 1 including a generally hatshaped flexiblesealing boot having an outer peripheral flange, an upstanding perimetricside wall, and an annular top wall having a central openingtherethrough, the actuator extending through the central opening of thetop wall and being hermetically sealed to the top wall, the outerperipheral flange being hermetically sealed to the casing, the side wallof the boot being rollable inwardly with the top wall as the plunger islongitudinally depressed.

7. The switch of claim 1 in which said switch lever means includes alever having first and second lever arm portions engageable with thepusher means and a contact portion, the lever being pivotally mountedwithin the casing between said lever arm portions, the pusher meansengaging the first lever arm portion when the actuator is notlongitudinally depressed whereby the contact portion is held away fromsaid other terminal, the pusher means engaging the second lever armportion when the actuator is longitudinally depressed whereby thecontact portion is forced into electrical contact with said otherterminal.

8. The switch of claim 7 in which said lever includes a pair of contactportions and is mounted adjacent a pair of terminals, each of thecontact portions being forced into electrical contact with one said pairof terminals when the actuator is depressed longitudinally.

9. The switch of claim 7 in which the actuator includes an elongatedoperating shaft, said pusher means including a plunger mounted on theoperating shaft for and spring means for biasing the plungertransversely outwardly from the operating shaft.

10. The switch of claim 1 in which the actuator includes an elongatedoperating shaft, said pusher means including a plunger mounted on theoperating shaft for sliding movement transversely of the operating shaftand spring means for biasing the plunger transversely outwardly from theoperating shaft.

11. The switch of claim 10 including a washer mounted within the casingin a plane extending generally transversely to the operating shaft whenthe.actuator is not pivoted, the washer including a pair of guide pinsextending generally parallel to the operating shaft, the plungerextending between the guide pins whereby the plunger is guided into andout of engagement with the switch lever means as the actuator moveslongitudinally.

12. The switch of claim 1 in which casing includes an inner wallprovided with a slot extending generally parallel to the actuator, thepusher means extending through the slot and being slidable therein asthe actuator means longitudinally, the pusher means being engageablewith edges of the slots to prevent rotation of the actuator about itslongitudinal axis.

13. The switch of claim 1 including second switch lever means mountedwithin the casing laterally of the actuator and opposite the firstswitch lever means, a terminal mounted within the casing adjacent thesecond switch lever means, the pusher means including a cross shaftextending transversely through the actuator and providing a pair ofends, a plunger slidably mounted on each end of the cross shaft, andspring means for biasing each plunger transversely outwardly from theactuator toward one of the switch lever means.

1. An electrical switch comprising a casing, a plurality of terminalswithin the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, an elongatedactuator mounted within the casing for longitudinal movement and forpivoting movement in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis ofthe actuator and extending generally parallel thereto, toggle switchmeans movably mounted within the casing below the actuator and adjacentat least one of said terminals whereby pivoting movement of the actuatormoves the toggle switch means inTo and out of electrical contact withsaid one terminal, switch lever means mounted within the casinglaterally of the actuator and adjacent another of said terminals, theactuator including pusher means for engaging the switch lever means andforcing the switch lever means into electrical contact with said otherterminal when the actuator is moved longitudinally, and locking means onthe casing and the actuator for preventing pivoting movement of theactuator when the actuator is moved longitudinally and for preventinglongitudinal movement of the actuator when the actuator is pivotedwhereby only one of the toggle switch means and the lever switch meansmay be actuated at a time.
 2. The switch of claim 1 in which the casingincludes a top wall, the locking means including an opening in the topwall of the casing, the actuator extending outwardly from the casingthrough the opening in the top wall, and abutment means carried by theactuator, the actuator being moveable longitudinally between a firstlongitudinal position in which the switch lever means is not inelectrical contact with said other terminal and a second longitudinalposition in which the switch lever means is in electrical contact withsaid other terminal, the abutment means being positioned above the topwall of the casing when the actuator is in the first longitudinalposition whereby the actuator can be pivoted without having the abutmentmeans engage the periphery of the opening in the top wall of the casing,the abutment means being engageable with the periphery of the opening inthe top wall of the casing when the actuator is in the secondlongitudinal position whereby the actuator is prevented from pivoting,the actuator being pivotable between centered and uncentered positionswhen the actuator is in the first longitudinal position, the abutmentmeans being positioned over a portion of the top wall of the casing whenthe actuator is in the uncentered position whereby the abutment means inengageable with the top wall to prevent longitudinal movement of theactuator to the second longitudinal position.
 3. The switch of claim 2in which the opening in the top wall of the casing and the abutmentmeans have mating non-round peripheral portions whereby rotation of theactuator about its longitudinal axis is restrained when the actuator isin the second longitudinal position.
 4. The switch of claim 2 in whichthe actuator includes a push button mounted on the outer end thereof,the abutment means being provided by a collar on the push button whichextends around at least a portion of the periphery of the actuator. 5.The switch of claim 1 including a generally hat-shaped flexible sealingboot surrounding the actuator and secured to the casing for hermeticallysealing the interior of the casing.
 6. The switch of claim 1 including agenerally hat-shaped flexible sealing boot having an outer peripheralflange, an upstanding perimetric side wall, and an annular top wallhaving a central opening therethrough, the actuator extending throughthe central opening of the top wall and being hermetically sealed to thetop wall, the outer peripheral flange being hermetically sealed to thecasing, the side wall of the boot being rollable inwardly with the topwall as the plunger is longitudinally depressed.
 7. The switch of claim1 in which said switch lever means includes a lever having first andsecond lever arm portions engageable with the pusher means and a contactportion, the lever being pivotally mounted within the casing betweensaid lever arm portions, the pusher means engaging the first lever armportion when the actuator is not longitudinally depressed whereby thecontact portion is held away from said other terminal, the pusher meansengaging the second lever arm portion when the actuator islongitudinally depressed whereby the contact portion is forced intoelectrical contact with said other terminal.
 8. The switch of claim 7 inwhich said lever includes a pair of contact portions and is mountedadjacent a pair of terminals, each of the contact portions being forcedinto electrical contact with one said pair of terminals when theactuator is depressed longitudinally.
 9. The switch of claim 7 in whichthe actuator includes an elongated operating shaft, said pusher meansincluding a plunger mounted on the operating shaft for sliding movementtransversely of the operating shaft and spring means for biasing theplunger transversely outwardly from the operating shaft.
 10. The switchof claim 1 in which the actuator includes an elongated operating shaft,said pusher means including a plunger mounted on the operating shaft forsliding movement transversely of the operating shaft and spring meansfor biasing the plunger transversely outwardly from the operating shaft.11. The switch of claim 10 including a washer mounted within the casingin a plane extending generally transversely to the operating shaft whenthe actuator is not pivoted, the washer including a pair of guide pinsextending generally parallel to the operating shaft, the plungerextending between the guide pins whereby the plunger is guided into andout of engagement with the switch lever means as the actuator moveslongitudinally.
 12. The switch of claim 1 in which casing includes aninner wall provided with a slot extending generally parallel to theactuator, the pusher means extending through the slot and being slidabletherein as the actuator means longitudinally, the pusher means beingengageable with edges of the slots to prevent rotation of the actuatorabout its longitudinal axis.
 13. The switch of claim 1 including secondswitch lever means mounted within the casing laterally of the actuatorand opposite the first switch lever means, a terminal mounted within thecasing adjacent the second switch lever means, the pusher meansincluding a cross shaft extending transversely through the actuator andproviding a pair of ends, a plunger slidably mounted on each end of thecross shaft, and spring means for biasing each plunger transverselyoutwardly from the actuator toward one of the switch lever means.